The future of the (e)retail sector from an occupational safety and health point of view

Introduction

E-retail is convenient, economical and empowering for the purchaser. For the seller, it presents numerous challenges, with additional logistics required to deliver goods directly to customers’ doors, tight profit margins driven by easy access to online price comparisons, and the pressure to provide a positive customer experience. Despite the challenges, e-retail is an established success, consistently outstripping growth in ‘high street’ retail. In order to meet the challenging demands of customers, e-retailers are increasingly automating, using a ‘gig economy’ workforce and minimising costs throughout their businesses. The drive for efficiency can arguably…